15 Cinco de Mayo Drinks

First up in our Cinco de Mayo drinks: the margarita pitcher! If you’re entertaining around a bowl of guacamole, you don’t want to have to stop every 5 minutes to squeeze and shake a new drink. The solution: a Margarita pitcher recipe. This one makes 8 drinks so you don’t have to stop the party. It’s based on our classic margarita, so it’s got no added sugar! Just citrus, Cointreau and tequila make the very best margarita pitcher recipe you’ll ever have.

Also try: Simple Margarita, Triple Sec Margarita, or Virgin Margarita (non-alcoholic version)

Here’s a Cinco de Mayo drink that marries the perfect combination of pineapple, tequila and lime: the Pineapple Margarita! We’ve become experts in all the margarita recipes, from the classic to the more off-the-wall. And this juicy, fruity cocktail has become a favorite! The sweet pineapple goes hand in hand with the sharp bite of the tequila and zingy lime. Add Cointreau orange liqueur to the mix, and it’s a party. You need to add this to your cocktail repertoire…stat.

Also try: Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita

Palomas as perfect for Cinco de Mayo! Cousin of the margarita, this classic Mexican cocktail recipe features tequila with grapefruit instead of lime. Changing up the citrus makes for a simple sour that’s sweet tart and refreshing. The Paloma is traditionally made with grapefruit soda, but for an all natural spin this recipe uses grapefruit juice and soda water (and it’s easier to find!). Add a salt rim and you’re in business!

There’s a new cocktail that’s ready to take over Cinco de Mayo. Meet Ranch Water! Yes, Ranch Water is the unofficial drink of West Texas (so it's technically Tex Mex), essentially a tequila highball made with lime juice and Topo Chico. It’s like a bubbly, lighter version of the classic margarita, with all the tangy lime but less sweetness and booze. Could there be anything more refreshing?

Love a good margarita or Paloma? Here’s a Mexican cocktail that you’ll adore: the Cantarito! This tasty tequila drink is similar to a Paloma, but it’s got more citrus juices like orange, lemon and lime juice. Layer it in a traditional clay cup, and the effect is stunning: it’s a light and refreshing drink that tastes even better sipped out of a cold clay rim. Don’t have one? You can serve it in a highball glass too. 

If you want to impress, try this Tequila Sunrise! It’s beautiful and vibrant, with layered colors of a summer sunset. Here’s the best part: it’s so easy to make! All you need is 3 ingredients: and no special techniques or equipment! The flavor is refreshingly sweet, with just a hint of tequila.

Want to heat up your cocktail repertoire? Please meet: the Jalapeno margarita! Take a classic margarita and shake it up with a few jalapeño pepper slices. The pepper adds a backend kick that takes this favorite drink to new heights! At first sip it tastes crisp and tart, and then POW! It hits you on the backend! It’s got just the right amount of heat to mix things up, but not so much that it’s throat burning.

Want a fun spin on the margarita? Try a Cadillac Margarita! As the name implies, this is a sophisticated version of the margarita. Float Grand Marnier on top of your classic margarita and you’ve got the Cadillac. It has a nuanced flavor that will make everyone say, “Wow! What’s in this?” It’s a great way to step up your cocktail game with very little effort.

Also try: Grand Marnier Margarita

Looking for a signature Cinco de Mayo drink that’s sweet, tart, salty, and smoky all at once? Meet the Mezcal Paloma. This cocktail has everything you need in a drink. The sweetness of grapefruit juice contrasts the tart lime and bubbly soda water. Top it off with a background smokiness of mezcal and a salt rim, and it couldn’t be more fun. This spin on the Mexican Paloma is definitely worth adding to your collection: especially if you’re a mezcal fan.

Want a refreshing beer cocktail that’s as irresistible as it is easy to mix up? Try a Mexican-style Chelada! The Chelada is tangy and refreshing, infusing Mexican beer with irresistible zing of fresh lime juice. Top it off with a salty rim and it’s ideal Cinco de Mayo or anytime: a laid back brunch, cocktails on the patio, or a dinner of shrimp tacos.

Love margaritas and want a fruity spin? Try this tasty and refreshing variation: a Strawberry Margarita! This one is icy and fruity, full of berry flavor but perfectly complimented with tangy lime and the bite of tequila. The marg pairs perfectly with fruit. You'll in love with this berry spin and its vibrant red color and sweet tart flavor.

More fruity margaritas: Watermelon Margarita, Blackberry Margarita, Peach Margarita and Mango Margarita

Can’t get enough tequila drinks for Cinco de Mayo? Here’s one of the best of them all — outside of the Classic Margarita, of course. Enter the Mexican mule! This drink is bold, it’s bubbly, and it’s ready to spice up your next gathering. A spin on the Moscow Mule, this tequila-based version might be even better than its inspiration. The way the bite of the tequila combines with spicy ginger and zingy lime makes it impossible not to immediately take another sip.

The classic margarita is one the greatest cocktails of all time. What’s the best way to outfit it for summer? Try this Frozen Margarita recipe! It’s our favorite entertaining trick. Who can turn down the sweet tart goodness of a frosty margarita?

If you’re not drinking micheladas: well then, you haven’t lived! The michelada is a spicy beer cocktail made with Mexican beer, tomato juice, lime juice and hot sauce. Consider it a sort of combination between a Bloody Mary and a beer margarita. The best part is the glass rim: a mix of Old Bay, chili powder and celery salt brings a salty, savory flair to the front end of this refreshing drink.

Want a margarita recipe with less calories? There’s a solution for that: the Skinny Margarita! Yes, a Skinny Margarita is a thing: it’s a lighter version of this classic drink. Here's the thing: this drink is extraordinarily tasty, too! Using lots of lime and orange juice and a little less liquor, it’s possible to make a margarita that tastes as good as the real thing (we think!).

Last up in our Cinco de Mayo drinks: the irresistibly smoky mezcal margarita. Adding the rich, smoky flavor of mezcal to a margarita is a no-brainer: it goes hand in hand with the tangy lime! One sip and you'll be sold. If you love smoky flavors and can handle a bit of boozy punch in your drinks, you’ll fall hard for this margarita. (Like we did!)